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Thursday, September 15, 2016

Inky Hey June Santa Fe

At the end of my pregnancy I made two sleeveless Santa Fe tops, one with lace insets and one color-blocked.

I really like these for hiding post-partum lumps, but I'm not a fan of the high neckline. Something about it doesn't work for me, proportionally. I think it makes me look like a triangle? Perhaps I'm not styling it properly. I didn't want to give up on the pattern, though, and I thought that maybe one of the views with sleeves would help balance my proportion. Those views also have a lower neckline.

I ordered some deeelicious rayon spandex knit from Raspberry Creek on Etsy. She sold out of this dark navy ink stripes print right away, sorry! I'm on a no-stripes diet but I had to break it for this one. It's absolutely perfect for a Santa Fe. And hey look! Outdoor photos!

I call this my "senior photo" pose

This is view D except I did not use seams in the center front and back, instead I cut on the fold. I didn't bother to try matching stripes, I didn't have enough fabric patience. I had a hard time cutting even though I did it single-layer. Somehow my front piece looked like this:

I guess it shifted while cutting. I forged ahead anyway and I don't think it had any ill effects. This is a size Small but I could probably get away with a lengthened XS (this one is not hemmed).

For the sleeve cuffs and neckband I used a navy cotton/spandex I had hiding in my stash, from Mood. It was a medium weight and it was just too heavy. It did not combine well with the lightweight rayon. It's fine on the cuffs, I guess, but along the neckline it was flopping open. I ended up turning it to the inside almost like a facing. Make it work!

Stripe-matchers, avert your eyes

I love how easy this top is to wear, but it does take two yards of fabric since it's got a cut-on sleeve and a wide shape. I prefer my tops to be squeezed out of a single yard. I'm cheap. But if you find a spectacular rayon knit, I highly recommend this pattern! I probably have enough narrow yardage left to make a second one with the color-blocked insets and center seams.

The sun came out!

Update July 2017: This post contains affiliate links. Text of the original post remains the same!